Lamium plant named ‘Orchid Frost Gold’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Lamium  plant named ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ that is distinguishable by prostrate well-branched plant habit, leaves which are heart-shaped, dentate, lime-green in color, accented by a green edges, inflorescences of soft red-purple flowers which are held upright along the stems and above the prostrate foliage canopy, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Lamium maculatum.

Variety denomination: ‘Orchid Frost Gold’.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lamiumplant, also known as Dead Nettle or Spotted Dead Nettle, a perennialthat is grown for use as an ornamental landscape and container plant.The new variety is known botanically as Lamium maculatum and will bereferred to hereinafter by the cultivar name ‘Orchid Frost Gold’.

The new Lamium variety ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ is a spontaneous whole plantmutation which arose during the chemical treatment of the inventor'svariety Lamium ‘Orchid Frost’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,122).Specifically, Stage II tissue cultured microplants of ‘Orchid Frost’were treated in the holding laboratory with a 0.001% solution of thechemical colchicine during February 2019 and observed after 6 months.The laboratory treatments resulted in a range of progeny includingprobable tetraploid mutations which would require further evaluation invivo.

The chemical treatment of ‘Orchid Frost’ was intended to give rise to atetraploid form of ‘Orchid Frost’ as disclosed in the co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 17/185,218 Lamium Plant Named ‘Orchid FrostGrande’. Although the present variety, ‘Orchid Frost Gold’, did notexhibit the characteristic vigor of a tetraploid variety, the inventorobserved that its foliage and flowers are distinctly different from‘Orchid Frost’ and that ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ was worthy of furthertrials.

In November 2019, unrooted cuttings of the single whole plant mutation‘Orchid Frost Gold’ were transferred to a commercial nursery in Oxnard,Calif. where the plants were rooted and grown on, under the inventor'sdirection.

‘Orchid Frost Gold’ was first asexually propagated in January 2020 in agreenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. The inventor has confirmed that ‘OrchidFrost Gold’ is stable and reproduces true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of ‘Orchid Frost Gold’. ‘Orchid FrostGold’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypicdifferences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, without however, any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ exhibits a prostrate well-branched plant        habit.    -   2. The leaves of ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ are heart-shaped, dentate,        lime green in color, accented by mid green edges.    -   3. The inflorescences of ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ are held upright        along the stems and above the prostrate foliage canopy.    -   4. The flowers of ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ are soft red-purple in        color.    -   5. ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ grows and flowers rapidly. Flowering        plants may be produced in 10 to 12 weeks from a cutting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance ofthe new Lamium cultivar ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ showing the colors as trueas it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. Photographs were taken in April 2019 in Oxnard, Calif. from a fivemonths old plant grown outdoors in 3-gallon container, with one pinchafter initial cutting establishment and without any chemical growthregulators. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description, which more accuratelydescribes the actual colors of the new variety ‘Orchid Frost Gold’.

FIG. 1 depicts an entire plant ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ prior to flowering.

FIG. 2 depicts the inflorescence of ‘Orchid Frost Gold’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Orchid Frost Gold’. Observations, measurements,values, and comparisons were collected in April 2020 in Santa Barbara,Calif. from a five months old plant which had been growing outdoors infull sun in a 3 gallon container in Oxnard, Calif., with one pinch afterinitial cutting establishment and without any chemical growthregulators. Color determinations were made in accordance with The 2007Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart from London England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Lamiaceae.        -   Genus.—Lamium.        -   Species.—maculatum.        -   Common name.—Sage.-   Parentage: ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ arose as a spontaneous whole plant    mutation of the inventor's variety of Lamium plant named ‘Orchid    Frost’.-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation method.—Softwood tip cuttings.        -   Rooting system.—Fine and fibrous.        -   Vigor.—Moderate vigor.        -   Time to develop roots.—5 days are needed for a cutting to            develop roots at recommended rooting temperature of 20° to            22° Centigrade.        -   Crop time.—Approximately 12 weeks are required to produce a            budded and flowering plant in a quart container from a            rooted cutting.        -   Suggested container sizes.—Small cell or plug plants for            mass planting or transplanting into larger containers or            mixed containers. Larger containers up to 5 gallons are            suitable for producing specimen plants for the garden and            landscape.        -   Use.—Ornamental for use as a landscape plant or container            plant.        -   Type.—Perennial.        -   Overall dimensions.—After 5 months growth, 15 cm in height,            including the inflorescence, and 20 cm in width.        -   Cultural requirements.—Grow in full sun with moderate water            and well-draining soil.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4.        -   Form and growth habit.—Predominantly dense prostrate foliage            with inflorescences held above the foliage canopy.        -   Blooming seasons.—Spring, summer and fall.        -   Lastingness of blooms.—Inflorescence has some flower for 14            days, newly-opened individual flowers last for 2 to 3 days.-   Branches:    -   -   Quantity.—8 to 12.        -   Shape.—Square.        -   Length.—20 cm measured to base of inflorescence.        -   Width.—3 to 4 mm towards the base tapering to 2 to 3 mm            immediately below the inflorescence.        -   Internode length.—2 cm to 4 cm.        -   Color.—143C.        -   Texture.—Rough, pubescent, hairs fine, length up to 2 mm,            color white NN155C.-   Leaves:    -   -   Type, arrangement.—Simple, opposite.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Quantity per branch.—5 to 7 pairs.        -   Shape.—Cordate.        -   Length.—45 mm.        -   Width.—43 mm.        -   Margin.—Dentate, 11 rounded teeth on each side edge, depth            2.0 to 2.5 mm, hairs fine, <0.5 mm in length, color NN155C.        -   Venation.—Pinnate, adaxial veins depressed, abaxial veins            raised.        -   Texture.—Adaxial surface: Glabrous, glossy. Abaxial surface:            Glabrescent.        -   Variegation.—Present on adaxial surface only.        -   Leaf color (except for 2 to 3 non-variegated leaves            immediately below inflorescence)        -   Adaxial surface.—157C with green edge.        -   Abaxial surface.—143B, green edge absent.        -   Leaf edge (adaxial surface only).—Extends 3mm inwards from            leaf margin, color 141B or 141C.        -   Leaf color (2 to 3 leaves immediately below            inflorescence).—141B.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Fragrance.—As wild nettles when rubbed.        -   Stipules.—Present in one or two pairs at each leaf axil.            Small, petiolate cordate leaflets up to 2 cm in length and            width. All other characteristics same as leaves (including            variegation).-   Petiole:    -   -   Shape.—Sulcate.        -   Length.—2.5 cm.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Texture.—Puberulent.        -   Color.—143C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Verticillaster. Peduncle absent.        -   Number of inflorescences per plant at maturity.—20 to 25.        -   Dimensions.—5 cm in height and 4 cm in diameter.-   Calyx:    -   -   Position.—Sessile.        -   Shape.—Campanulate, flared toward the apex.        -   Length.—6 mm to 9 mm.        -   Width.—7 mm across flared apex.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—5, fused at base, otherwise free, divergent.        -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Width.—2.5 mm when flattened.        -   Shape (where free).—Narrow lanceoloate.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Adaxial surface (fused base): 144B. Adaxial surface            (free sepals): 141B. Abaxial surface: 144B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Type.—Zygomorphic, axillary, single, arranged in            verticillasters.        -   Quantity.—20 to 25 per inflorescence.        -   Shape.—Corolla tube clavate, flowers present upper petal as            a hemispherical hood and lower petals and lobes as lower            lips.        -   Fragrance.—None observed except for secreted sweet-smelling            nectar.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Globose.        -   Diameter.—4 mm to 5 mm.        -   Texture.—Densely pubescent, almost furry. Hairs very fine,            white NN155C, 1 mm in length.        -   Color.—N78C.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular and curved upwards as tube emerges from            calyx.        -   Length.—10 mm, including corolla tube, length 8 mm.        -   Width (measured vertically).—3 mm.        -   Width (measured horizontally).—2 mm.        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous, abaxial surface glandular            and sticky with colorless nectar.        -   Color (except tube, both surfaces).—N78C.        -   Color (corolla tube, both surfaces).—NN155B, translucent.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—2.        -   Arrangement.—One upper petal (hood), one lower petal which            appears as a prominent two-lobed lip facing downward and            outward.        -   Upper petal.—Shape: Hooded, hemispherical. Width and height:            12 mm. Texture: Adaxial surface: Puberulent. Abaxial            surface: Glabrous. Apex: Rounded. Base: Absent, upper petal,            lower petals, corolla tube all fused. Margin: Smooth, wavy,            lightly pubescent. Upper petal color (both surfaces): Ranges            between N74C and N74D.        -   Lower petal.—Shape: Two adjacent rhomboid lobes, fused at            base. Length (each lobe): 5 mm. Width (each lobe): 4 mm.            Texture (both surfaces): Smooth, glabrous. Apex: Broad,            undulating. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire, gently            undulating. Color (adaxial surfaces): N74C. Color (abaxial            surface): N74C, N74D and 70D all individually present.        -   Floral Bracts.—Present as 1 or 2 claw-like bracts attached            to margin above each of the lower petal lobes; 1.0 to 1.5 mm            in length, 0.3 to 0.5 mm in width, color N78C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 4. Filaments parallel, fused at base,            length 15 to 17 mm, diameter 0.5 mm, color NN155D.        -   Anther.—Shape: Double ellipsoid, basally fused and attached            to filament. Length: 2 mm. Width: 1 mm. Color: 187A.        -   Pollen.—Amount: Light. Color: N167B.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1 Style: length 15 to 17 mm, color NN155D            (identical to filaments). Stigma: Forked (bifid), each fork            1.5 mm in length and slightly recurving.        -   Ovary (only observed unfertilized).—Position: Superior,            appears as domed pinhead, 1.5 mm in diameter, color 196B.-   Seed: None observed.-   Disease and pest susceptibility: Susceptible to aphids (Aphis    gossypii) and to deer and rabbit grazing. Generally outgrows most    bacterial and viral infections.-   Drought tolerance: Drought tolerant.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINE AND KNOWN VARIETY

In comparison with the parent variety ‘Orchid Frost’, which is also theclosest variety known to the inventor, ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ exhibits softred-purple flowers and lime green colored foliage, whereas plants of‘Orchid Frost’ bear purple colored flowers and silver-grey coloredfoliage.

COMPARISON WITH CO-PENDING VARIETY

In comparison with the co-pending variety, ‘Orchid Frost Grande’, plantsof ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ are less vigorous and exhibit leaves which arelime green in color with wide mid-green edges. The leaves of ‘OrchidFrost Grande’ are silver-white in color and exhibit narrower dark greenedges. In addition, the flowers and buds of ‘Orchid Frost Gold’ aresmaller and paler red-purple in color whereas the buds and flowers of‘Orchid Frost Grande’ are larger and darker red-purple in color.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lamium plant named ‘OrchidFrost Gold’ as described and illustrated herein.